Pupil Council

Welcome to the Pupil Council page!

The Role of Class and Pupil Council

Class CouncilAt class council meetings, we share and discuss ideas for ways to improve our school.The class council rep records ideas in our class council files to send to the next Pupil Council meeting for discussion.We hold class council meetings fortnightly.

Pupil Council:Pupil council meet every other week (alternate to class council) to discuss the ideas, decide on the most effective ways to change and improve the school and then talk to the people who can help to make it happen.Pupil council regularly share news and information about new initiatives and the important things which are achieved.

Together we can help Whitehouse Common to continue to grow and succeed.

Whitehouse Common Pupil Council Constitution

Pupil council needs a constitution because it will:• Provide everyone with a clear statement of purpose• Set out the rules and procedures to make sure Pupil Council runs effectively and successfully• Provide clear guidelines for anyone joining pupil council

Name of organisation:WHC Pupil Council

Purpose:1. To allow the children at Whitehouse Common Primary School have a voice2. To help the school and community be a better place3. To help to improve learning in the school4. To raise funds for the school

Members:Pupil council will be made up of representatives from years 1 – 6.Each class will elect one representative who attends meetings and gives feedback.Each class will also elect a vice representative who will attend meetings and feedback in the main representative’s absence.Having been a member of pupil council for one year, children will then be unable to represent their class for the following two years to allow opportunity to a wider range of people.

Elections:Elections will be run without prejudice or discrimination.Any class member is entitled to run for Pupil council and the decision in each class will be made by a secret ballot.Children wishing to be considered for Pupil Council will need to present a speech to their class giving clear reasons and examples of why they are the most suitable candidate for the job.

Officers:Once elected on to Pupil Council as board members, children will be able to apply for specific job roles within the organisation.These are as follows:• Chair person• Vice Chair Person• Secretary• Treasurer• Promotions officer• Communication / Liaison officer

These roles will be elected by the board using the same election process as for Pupil Council.

Job roles and responsibilities will be shared with all Pupil Council members at the beginning of the year and job specifications will be kept in each class file.

Leaving Pupil Council:

Should a member of Pupil Council wish to resign from their post they must write a letter to the Chair Person giving reasons for their decision.Once a member has resigned they will not be permitted to reapply for Pupil Council in the future, unless there are circumstances considered to be exceptional by the board (e.g. serious illness).

In these circumstances, the vice representative from the class will become the main representative and a new vice must be elected as soon as possible.

Pupil council members may be asked to step down from their position if they repeatedly break Pupil Council rules.Each member has three chances. Should they lose these three chances, they will be asked by the Chair Person to give up their role and leave.Pupils asked to leave Pupil Council will not be permitted to reapply for a position in the future.

The Pupil Council Rules are as follows:

All Pupil Council members must:• be respectful and listen to others • contribute or participate actively in meetings• follow the school rules and be role models to other pupils• model good behaviour at all times• be polite and courteous to others• not refer to specific individuals or groups during discussions• use their position on Pupil Council to support and develop their school and peers and not abuse this position in any way

Meetings:Pupil council will meet every two weeks. These meetings will last a minimum of 30 minutes.Should additional meetings be required, these will be called as necessary.The venue and time of meetings will be agreed at the beginning of each school year.For decisions to be made at a meeting, there must be at least 6 members present (one form each year group wherever possible) and decisions are made through a “show of hands” vote in which the majority rules.Class / Year group meetings should be held once a month to discuss and share ideas and feedback. These should be included in class assembly time and circle time as appropriate.

This new Pupil Council Constitution has been written and agreed by WHC Pupil Council 2010-11 and will take effect from September 2011.

Pupil Council would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a very merry Christmas and a very happy new year! We also want to ask you to take care and stay safe over the holidays to make sure that you come back in January fighting fit and healthy.

We hope that you feel we have worked hard so far and made steps towards continuing to improve and develop our school. Thank you for all of your suggestions and ideas, for your support and for helping us to achieve the goals that we have already set ourselves.

As we move into 2016, we are thinking ahead to further ways of developing teaching and learning and continuing to make sure that our school is the best that it can be. We need to to keep on passing on your suggestions through your class council meetings and we look forward to the work to come in the term ahead.